Pivoted-closure operating means and circuit closer



Aug. 16, 1927. 1 1,639,581

J E. VAUGHN PIVOTED CLOSURE OPERATING MEANS AND CIRCUIT CLOSER Filed Oct. 8, 192; 2 sheets-sheet. 1

(fa /anal ATTORNEY WITNESS: v

Aug. 1 6, 1927.

\ J. E. VAUGHN 'PIVOTED CLOSUR E OPERATING MEANS AND CIRCUIT CLOSER Fil d Oct.

J 2 2 J 2 u: A $22523 M a. w J.

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ATTORNEY WITNESS:

Patented Aug. 16, 1927.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOSHUA E. VAUGHN, 0F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

PIVOTED-CLOSURE OPERATING MEANS AND CIRCUIT CLOSER.

Application filed October 8, 1923. Serial No. 667,317.

This invention relates to mail boxes and has particular application to mail boxes of thetype used on rural routes.

The invention has for its object the pro vision of a box equipped with mechanism adapted to be actuated by the carrier when delivering or depositing-mail within or on the box, and which mechanism sounds a signal and also operates an indicator arranged within the house, thus informing the occupant thereof that the mail has been delivered.

In carrying out the invention, I also provide a. switch arranged within the house, and connected in circuit witha signal supported on the box, so that the said signal can he sounded at the will of the owner, the signal being used to inform the letter carrier that the occupant of the house desires to speak to him.

'T he nature and advantages of the invention will be better understood when the following detailed description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, the invention residing in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as claimed.

In the drawings forming partof this application, like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the mail box and the instrument board adapted to be arranged within the house.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the mail box showing the parts in normal position.

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the mail box partly in section.

Figure 4 is a detail view of the combined door operating means'and circuit closer.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 10 indicates generally a mail box which can vary in size and configuration without departing from the spirit of the invention. The box including at one end an auxiliary box or compartment 11 adapted to receive mail deposited by the owner and to be collected by the mail carrier. The construction and manner of using this auxiliary box 11 will be hereinafter more fully described. "he box 10 is utilized to receive mail deliver-ed bythe carrier, and has a receiving slot 12 normally closed by a pivoted door 13. The box is also equipped with means for clamping mail on the top of the box, this means being utilized to clamp papers, packages or the like which are too large to be inserted through the slot 12. The means for this purpose consist of a frame made up of inverted U-shaped members suitably spaced apart, and which members have their parallel links 14 and 15 respectively depending through the top of the box and slidable through openings formed therein. The cross bar 16 of each U-shaped member is arranged above and parallel with the top of the box, the mail matter being clamped between the top and these cross bars 16. The U-shaped members are connected together by a transverse bar 17 arranged adjacent the box and it will also be noted that the corresponding limbs 16 of these U-shaped members are slightly longer than the limbs 1 1 to extend an appreciable distance within the box, the limbs 15 being connected at their lower ends by a cross member 18. This clamping device is normally maintained in a lowered position as illustrated in the different views in the drawings, by means of a coiled spring 19 housed within a suitable casing 20 secured to the rear wall of the box 10. A wire element 21 connects the upper ends of this spring with the cross member 18 of the clamping frame and normally exerts downward pressure on the latter, this cross member 18 however, is also connected with theadjacent end of a flexible cable 22 the latter being trained over an idle pulley 3 journalled in a suitable bracket 24: secured to the rear wall of the box 10 immediately above and in alignment with the spring 19. The other end of this cable is connected with a lever 26 pivoted at an ap propriate point in its length as at 27, the other end of this lever being connected with a vertically movable operating rod 28. The

lower end of this rod is in turn connected with the adjacent and of a manually operable lever 29 pivoted within the box as at 30, but extending exteriorly of the box and equipped with a handle 31. Vhen it is desired to arrange the papers or packages beneath the clamping frame, it holds said articles immovable upon the top of the box,

it only necessary to depress the lever 29, thereby elevating the rod 28 which of course rocks the lever 26 upon its pivot. The lever is rocked in a direction to move the flexible cable 22 over the pulley in a direction to more the clamping frame a suthcient distance above the top of the box to allow the packages and papers to be arranged in a manner above described. When the lever 29 is released, the spring 29 functions to move the clamping frame downwardly to its active or clamping position, and incidently return the lever 29 to its normal position or substantially so. This mechanism is supported in an electric circuit, which embodies a signal 32 in the nature of a bell so that the occupant of the house will be informed each and every time mail is delivered. The lever 26, constitutes a movable contact, adapted to engage a fixed contact 33 when the mechanism is operated to elevate the clamping frame above described. This consequently closes the circuit to the bell 32, the current passing from the battery 34 through the wire 35, to a switch 36 mounted upon the instrument board 37 arranged within the housing, and thence passing through the signal or hell 32 to the wire 38, and thence through the lever 26 and fixed contact 33 to the return wire 39 which leads back to the battery 34L to one of a pair of elect-ro-magnets. As the current passes through the magnet just referred to and indicated at 40, the pointer or indicating finger 1-1 is moved from its normal position shown in both Figures and 6 to an active position, in which position it points in the direction of the word Mail arranged on the face of the instrument board 37. The electro-magnet 40 is energized for this purpose being included in the circuit just described, although the pointer or indicator linger a1 can be conveniently reset, or returned to normal position by energizing the other electro-magnet included in a circuit independently of the circuit just described, and which circuit also embodies a push button 43 mounted upon the instrument board 37. \Vhen the push button l3 is operated, the current passes from the battery 3 through the wire 4% to the electro magnet 42, energizing the latter for the purpose just mentioned, the current passing from the magnet through the wire 41-5 to the push button switch 43, and thence throi'igh the wire 4L6 which is a return wire connected to the wire 35 terminally associated with the battery. This circuit can be closed at any time that it is desired to return the pointer to its nornal or inactive position, whether the latter has been moved to an active position by energizing the circuit including the lever 20, or energized by the independent circuitwhich is closed incident to the opening of the'door 13 of the mail box proper.

In this connection it will be noted that I have devised a mechanism for opening the door 13, and simultaneously closing the electric circuit to the signal 32, so as to inform the occupant of the house that mail matter has been deposited in the box. The means en'iployed for this purpose embodies a shaft which has connected thereto one of a pair of spaced parallel links indicated at 48 and it) respectively, these liiiks being connected at their corresponding upper ends by a link 50 while also associated with the lower end of the link a9 is a link 51 arranged parallel with the link 50. These links defining a parallelogran'i, with the link l8 considerably shorter than the link 49 and directly connected \vithtlie shaft T7. The link 49 is also mounted on a pivot which is suitably mounted within the mail box 10. Depending from the shaft t? are spaced parallel arms from the lower extremities of which eX- tend arm 54. Theses-meal are arranged substantiaily ata right angle to the arm 53, and project in the direction of the floor 13 with which they are pivotally connected as at 55. Depending from the link 51 of the parallelogram is an arm 56 which is also mounted on a pivot 57, thisariii being pivotally associated with the link 51. The lower end of the arm 56 supports a contact 58 included in an electric circuit which is closed sinmltaneously with the opening of the door 13 in a manner to be presently described. Mounted upon the mail box for sliding movementis a spring pressed rod 59 which projects an appreciable distance from the front of the boxand equipped with a knob or handle 60 so that it can be conveniently operated. This rod slides through casing 61 arranged within the box, and which casing houses a spring 62 which normally holds the rod in the position shown in Figures 2 and 6. The inner end of this rod carries a. contact 63 forming with the contact 58, a c rcuit closer for the purpose above specified. These contacts arenormally spaced apart, but when therod 59 is pushed inwardly for the purpose of opening the door 13, inasmuch as the parallelogramabove described actuated to move the arms 54 outu'*ai'dlv, a contact 63 is brought into engagement with the contact 58, thereby closing the said circuit to the signal In the circuit just referred to, the current flowing from the battery through the wire 64 to the e'lectro-magnet 4-0, which of course moves the pointer oiindicator linger to an active position as above described. The current passes from this magnet through the wire 39 to the circuit closer including the contacts 58 and 63 respectively, from where it passes through the wires (35 and 38 to the signal32. The sigual is then sounded for the purpose above mentinned, the current passing from the signal through the switch 36 and then back to the battery through the wire 35. When the rod 59 is released, the spring 62 returns the parts to normal position, thus breaking the circuit as will be readily understood, and incidently closing the door 13. i

From the structure thus far described, it is manifest that the signal 82 will be sounded when mail matter is either deposited within the box 10, or clamped on the top of the box through independent circuits, and independent operating means. However, the switch 36 which is mouted upon the instrument board within the house must be closed in order to complete either of the circuits described. Consequently if for any reason, the

occupantof the house should not want the signal 32 sounded under any circumstance, it is only necessary to open the switch 36. It might be stated that the instrument board 37 can support any number of useful articles such as a barometer 66 and a thermometer 67, while arranged at some appropriate part of the board is an electric light bulb 68. This bulb of course is included in the house circuit controlled by an independent switch and utilized to illuminate the board at any time desired. The indicator above referred to is indicated at 69 and consists of a small piece of material having the Word Mail arranged thereon, the pointer 41 forming part of the indicator generally. In the lower corner of the board is a clock 70, while arranged above the clock is .a mirror 71.

As above stated, the invention also provides means whereby the attention of the mail carrier can be attracted thus informing him of the fact that the occupant of the house desires to speak to him, and this mechanism includes a signal in the nature of a bell indicated at 72. The bell is mounted upon the mail box 10, and is included in circuit with a push button switch 73 also mounted upon the instrument board 37. When the push button is operated, the current flows from the battery through the wire 35 to the signal 72, passing from the signal through the return wire 74, through the switch 73 and thence back through the battery, through the wires 75 and 76 respectively. It will be noted that the circuit can be energized to sound the signal 32 independently of the switch 36, which as just stated must be closed for the completion of another circuit.

The auxiliary box 11 which is arranged on one side of the main box 10 is adapted to receive mail matter to be collected by the carrier, and this box includes a hinged cover 77. The cover has secured thereto an angular shaped bar, one portion 78 extending across the cover and secured thereto, while the other portion 78 of this rod depends from the cover and terminates to provide a hook like extremity 80. Supported by the front of the box is a small casing 81 which contains a circuit closer. This circuit closer includes a plurality of spaced roller, contacts indicated at 82, 83 and er respectively, there being preferably three of such con tacts adapted to be alternately engaged by a movable contact 85 carried by a shaft 86, and adapted to be rotated in order to release the cover 77 so that mail matter deposited in the box can be removed by the carrier. Also carried by this shaft 86 exteriorly of the casing 81 is an arm 87 which is adapted to be received by the hook like extremity and thus hold the cover in a closed position, and necessitating the rotation of the shaft 86 before the cover can be opened. Carried by one end of this arm 87 is a sign 88 which contacts the words Stop for mail please. Obviously, when the shaft 86 is rotated incident to the removal of the arm 87 from the hook like extremity 80 of the rod 79, the movable contact of the circuit closer is successfully brought into engagement with the spaced contacts 82, 83 and 84, thereby intermittently closing the circuit which also includes the signal 32, with a resultant sounding of the signal three distinct times. This informs the occupant of the house that the mail deposited in the box 11 has been collected by the carrier, the sounding of the signal three times differentiating the use of the signal for this purpose, as compared to the sounding of the signal once, which of course occurs when mail is delivered, by

either depositing the mail within the box 10 orclamping the mail on the top of the box as described. When the circuit is closed intermittently as stated, the current flows from the battery 34 through the wire '7 6 which is connected with the fixed contacts 82, 83, and 84c and as the movable contact 85 engages these fixed contacts, the current flows through said movable contact through the wire 89, and thence through the wire 38,

through the signal 32, sounding the latter every time the movable contact engages one of the fixed contacts. The current passes from the signal through the switch 36 back to the battery through the wire 35.

While it is believed that from the foregoing description, the nature and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent, I desire to have it understood that I do not limit myself to what is herein shown and described, and that such changes may be resorted to when desired as fall within the scope of what is claimed.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

The combination with a receptacle having a pivoted .closure, of a transversely arranged shaft within the receptacle, a plurality of pivotally connected links arranged to provide a parallelogram vertically disposed within the receptacle, one of the vertical links being connected with said shaft. arms depending from said shaft, arms projecting forwardly flOH] the afoifeme'ntioned arms and connected with sziid closure, a lever depending from the lowermost horizontal link and pivoted hetnm'en its ends, an electric eontuet support-ed by said lever, asliding plunger mounted on the front of the l eoeptacle and movable Within the bitter, find an electrioal content carried by the plunger and adapted to engage the first mentioned contact to operate said shaft for the purpose 10 specified.

In testimony whereof I afiix iny signature.

JOSHUA VAUGHN. 

